De Quervain's tenosynovitis is not uncommon in new parents - my husband got it from the way he held our daughter (sort of a "tennis elbow" for the thumb, since he held her with the thumb slightly hyperextended). I have seen several mothers with it, some who were breastfeeding and some who weren't. I issue is often positioning while feeding or holding the infant, but can be due to arm/hand position during sleep. Splinting is quite appropriate, but cortisone injections are usually reserved for cases that don't respond to splinting, ice, and non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (ibuprofen in the case of lactating moms). I ask my patients to wear the splint and then I work with them on positioning. Hand surgeons I have asked have wanted to wait on surgery or injections until after weaning since hormones can affect ligaments and tendons. Fortunately, no surgeon has told someone to wean, but to wear the splint as needed until weaning. Usually things get better long before weaning. Julie Graves Moy, M.D., M.P.H. [log in to unmask] P.O. Box 4768 Austin, Texas 78765 512-440-0480 512-441-1666 fax